JPH07138888A - Method for ink jet printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out the clear recording without using an ink according to a cloth and causing any fouling in white areas by performing the ink jet printing of a cloth treated with a cationic substance and then washing the printed cloth with water containing an amphoteric surfactant dissolved therein. CONSTITUTION:This method for ink jet printing is to coat a fabric such as cotton, silk or synthetic fiber with a cationic substance, e.g. a reactional quaternary ammonium compound, cationic inorganic fine particles or an anionic polymeric substance, then carry out the ink jet recording (printing), as necessary, develop a color, subsequently wash the resultant fabric with water containing an amphoteric surfactant (preferred example: an amino acid type or a betaine type amphoteric surfactant) and perform the excellent ink jet recording (printing) without using an ink according to the fabric and causing any fouling in white areas or bleeding by using simple operation. A substrate (e.g. paper or a synthetic resin film) to which PVA, etc., that is a tacky agent is applied can be laminated to the back surface of the fabric to suitably convey the cloth in an ink jet printer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to printing on cloth by using an ink jet printer, and more particularly to a suitable printing method for printing on cloth.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of ink-jet printing a cloth, a cloth is temporarily adhered to a non-stretchable flat support coated with an adhesive and printed by a printer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-6183). Alternatively, there is known a method in which a cloth is attached to a sheet having an adhesive layer in which an adhesive and an anti-migration agent are mixed and ink-jet printing is performed (JP-A-2-68372). These prior arts have been devised to improve the transportability of a cloth having an unstable shape in a printer and to suppress the irregular bleeding of ink during recording. However, many of these conventional techniques are still insufficient, and there is a need for improvement. That is, since the structure and type of the optimal color material differ depending on the type of cloth, it is necessary to change the type of ink used, and the ink used in conventional office or personal inkjet printers is Or OH
Since it is designed to record on P film, there is a problem that the type of cloth that can be recorded is limited and the color density after printing is low.

[0003]

The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the prior art requires different inks to be used depending on the type of cloth, and therefore has poor operability, especially for office and personal use. When applied directly to an inkjet printer, the color density after printing is low, and the types of cloth that can be printed are limited. In addition, it is difficult to obtain a practical printed material due to contamination of the undyed part that occurs in the water washing step after printing.

[0004]

The inventor of the present invention has reached the present invention as a result of extensive research to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is, the present invention is an ink-jet printing method comprising a step of performing ink-jet printing on a cloth treated with a cationic substance, then washing the cloth with water in which an amphoteric surfactant is dissolved and drying.

The present invention will be described in detail below.

The basic constituent elements of the present invention are firstly that inks used in commercially available ink jet printers can print on all kinds of cloths.
The cloth is treated with a cationic substance, the second is to put a base material on the back of the cloth to improve the transportability of the cloth in the printer, and the third is the recording on the cloth. In order to prevent the unprinted portion from being contaminated in the washing step after the washing, the amphoteric surfactant is contained in the washing water in advance.

The types of cloth treated with a cationic substance that constitutes the present invention include cotton, silk, nylon, rayon, acetate, polyester and blended fabrics thereof. The method for treating these fabrics with a cationic substance is as follows. There are three processing methods such as.

A reactive quaternary amine compound is reactively added to the fiber.

A cationic inorganic fine particle and a binder are applied (using a crosslinking agent together).

Anionic dyeable polymeric substance is applied (combined with an adhesive).

The following compounds may be mentioned as specific examples of the reactive quaternary amine compound.

[0012]

[Chemical 1]

[0013]

[Chemical 2]

[0014]

[Chemical 3]

[0015]

[Chemical 4]

[0016]

[Chemical 5]

[0017]

[Chemical 6]

[0018]

[Chemical 7]

[0019]

[Chemical 8]

[0020]

[Chemical 9]

[0021]

[Chemical 10]

[0022]

[Chemical 11]

[0023]

[Chemical 12]

[0024]

[Chemical 13] (In the above formula, X represents halogen such as Cl and Br.) As the cationic inorganic fine particles, there are alumina sol (particle size: 5 μm to 200 μm) and the like. Specific examples thereof include Alumina sol-100 manufactured by Nissan Chemical Co., Ltd. , Alumina sol-200, alumina sol-520 and the like.

Examples of the anion dyeable polymer substance include gum arabic, casein, glue, soybean protein, urea resin, melamine resin, polyacrylamide, polyamide,
Examples thereof include polyurethane, polyethyleneimine, and quaternary amino group-containing polymers.

As the crosslinking agent, a bifunctional epoxy compound,
Examples thereof include bisacrylamide, dimethylol ethylene urea, dimethylol propylene urea, dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea, and methylated dimethylol dimethoxy ethylene urea.

As a method of cation-treating a cloth with these compounds, a solution of these compounds is applied to or impregnated into the cloth, then heated and cured, washed with water and dried. The amount of these treatment agents applied to the cloth is the treatment method,
Although it varies depending on the type of treatment agent, it is generally 0.1 to 30 wt% with respect to the cloth.

Further, in order to improve ink bleeding and absorbability on the surface of the cloth treated with the cationic substance, water-soluble salts, water-soluble resins, water-repellent compounds and the like can be further applied and impregnated. .

As the substrate used in the present invention, paper, synthetic resin film, metal foil plate and laminates thereof are used. In the present invention, the thickness is 30 to 300 μm.
Most suitable is paper or synthetic resin film. Known adhesives can be used as the pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to one surface of these base materials. For example, homopolymer resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl ether, polyacrylate, and polyisobutylene, or adhesive resins composed of these copolymer resins, and adhesive groups such as natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, and butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber. A variety of pressure-sensitive adhesives obtained by adding a tackifier made of a polyterpene-based resin and a modified product thereof, a natural rosin and a modified product thereof, and various aliphatic or aromatic resins to the agent. In addition, in order to improve the spinnability of these adhesives, inorganic pigments such as talc and calcium carbonate are added,
A fluorine-containing compound can be used to enhance the peeling property. Next, the method of applying this pressure-sensitive adhesive to the substrate can be carried out by using an ordinary coating device, and any of the whole surface coating, linear coating and dot coating can be used. To attach the cloth to the base material coated with the adhesive, the cloth is attached to the surface of the base material coated with the adhesive, and the cloth is passed, for example, between two rolls or pressed by a press machine. Can be performed by applying uniform pressure to the entire surface of the.

In the present invention, 0.1 to 10 g / l of an amphoteric surfactant is added to the washing water in order to prevent so-called white spot contamination in which the unprinted portion on the cloth is soiled and to suppress image bleeding. It is necessary. Examples of the amphoteric surfactant include amino acid type, betaine type, sulfate ester type, sulfonate type, and phosphate ester type, and amino acid type and betaine type amphoteric surfactants are preferable, and specific examples As, sodium lauryl aminopropionate, polyoctyl polyaminoethylglycine, laurylaminopropylglycine, lauryldimethylbetaine, N-lauryl-N-hydroxyethyl-N-carboxymethylimidazolinium betaine, coconut oil fatty acid amidepropylbetaine, lauryl Examples thereof include dihydroxyethyl betaine and stearyl dimethyl betaine.

This amphoteric surfactant has the effect of rapidly aggregating undyed dye when washing the printed matter of the present invention with water to prevent white field contamination and to sharpen the edge of the image. Further, it is superior to other treatment agents because the cationization-treated surface of the cloth is masked at the same time by making the pH of the washing liquid acidic as a treatment condition.

Next, a method of performing ink jet printing using the cloth of the present invention will be described. As the usable ink, any ink of reactive dye, acid dye, and direct dye may be used. That is, the ink used in a general inkjet printer can be used as it is. For printing, a cloth may be attached to a commercially available inkjet printer to perform normal recording.

The cloth used in the present invention may be, for example, an A4 size paper, and may be printed like ordinary paper or OHP, or may be rolled and continuously printed.

As a method and apparatus suitable for printing using the cloth of the present invention, for example, thermal energy is applied to ink in the head chamber in response to a signal, and ink droplets are generated by the thermal energy. Method and device.

An example of the head structure, which is the main part of the apparatus, is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The head 13 is a glass, ceramics or plastic plate having a groove 14 through which ink passes, and a heating head 15 used for thermal printing (a glass head is shown in the figure, but the invention is not limited to this. )
It is obtained by bonding and. The heating head 15 includes a protective film 16 made of silicon oxide or the like, an aluminum electrode 17-
1, 17-2, heating resistor layer 1 formed of nichrome, etc.
8, a heat storage layer 19, and a substrate 20 having a good heat dissipation property such as alumina.

The ink 21 is a discharge orifice (fine hole) 2
2, the meniscus 23 is formed by the pressure P.

Here, when an electric signal is applied to the electrodes 17-1 and 17-2, the area indicated by n of the heating head 15 rapidly generates heat, and bubbles are generated in the ink 21 in contact therewith. The meniscus 23 is projected by the pressure, the ink 21 is ejected, becomes an ink droplet 24 from the orifice 22, and flies toward the print medium 25.

FIG. 3 shows an external view of a multi-head in which a large number of the heads shown in FIG. 1 are arranged. The multi-head is manufactured by closely adhering a glass plate 27 having multi-grooves 26 and a heating head 28 similar to that described in FIG.

Incidentally, FIG. 1 shows the head 1 along the ink flow path.
3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AB of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an ink jet printing apparatus incorporating such a head.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 61 denotes a blade as a wiping member, one end of which is held by a blade holding member to become a fixed end, which is in the form of a cantilever. The blade 61 is arranged at a position adjacent to the print area of the head, and in the case of this example, is held in a protruding form in the moving path of the head. Reference numeral 62 denotes a cap, which is arranged at a home position adjacent to the blade 61, and has a configuration in which it moves in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the head and comes into contact with the ejection port surface to perform capping. 63 more
Is an absorber provided adjacent to the blade 61, and like the blade 61, is held in a protruding form in the movement path of the head. The blade 61, the cap 62, and the absorber 63 constitute a discharge recovery section 64, and the blade 6
Water and dust are removed from the ink ejection port surface by the 1 and the absorber 63.

Reference numeral 65 denotes a head having ejection energy generating means, which ejects ink onto a print medium facing the ejection port surface where the ejection ports are arranged to print, and 66 a head 65.
Is a carriage for carrying the head and moving the head 65. The carriage 66 slidably engages with the guide shaft 67, and a part of the carriage 66 is connected (not shown) to a belt 69 driven by a motor 68. As a result, the carriage 66 can move along the guide shaft 67, and the head 65 can move the print area and its adjacent area.

Reference numeral 51 is a cloth feeding portion for inserting a print medium, and 52 is a cloth feed roller driven by a motor (not shown). With these configurations, the cloth is supplied to the position facing the ejection port surface of the head, and is discharged to the discharge section provided with the discharge rollers 53 as the printing progresses.

In the above structure, when the head 65 returns to the home position after printing is completed, the cap 62 of the head recovery unit 64 is retracted from the moving path of the head 65, but the blade 61 is projected in the moving path. As a result, the ejection port surface of the head 65 is wiped. When the cap 62 comes into contact with the ejection surface of the head 65 for capping, the cap 62 moves so as to project into the movement path of the head.

When the head 65 moves from the home position to the print start position, the cap 62 and the blade 61 are in the same position as the above-mentioned wiping position. As a result, the ejection opening surface of the head 65 is wiped even during this movement.

The above-described movement of the head to the home position is performed not only at the end of printing or at the time of ejection recovery but also at a home position adjacent to the print area at a predetermined interval while the head is moving in the print area for printing. It moves, and the wiping is performed along with this movement.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an ink cartridge in which the ink is supplied to the head through an ink supply member, for example, a tube. Here, 40 is an ink containing portion containing the ink for supply, for example, an ink bag, and a rubber stopper 42 is provided at the tip thereof. By inserting a needle (not shown) into this stopper 42, the ink in the ink bag 40 can be supplied to the head. 44
Is an absorber that receives waste ink. It is preferable for the present invention that the ink supply section has a surface in contact with the ink made of polyolefin, particularly polyethylene. The ink jet printing apparatus used in the present invention is not limited to the above-described head and ink cartridge which are separate bodies, but may be preferably used as an integrated one as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 70 denotes a print unit, in which an ink containing portion containing ink, for example, an ink absorber is contained, and the ink in the ink absorber has a plurality of orifices. Head part 7
It is configured to be ejected as an ink droplet from 1. Polyurethane is preferably used as the material of the ink absorber. Reference numeral 72 denotes an atmosphere communication port for communicating the inside of the print unit with the atmosphere. This print unit 7
Reference numeral 0 is used in place of the head shown in FIG. 4, and is removable from the carriage 66.

The printed cloth is heated if necessary, then washed with water, the cloth is peeled from the substrate and dried. Alternatively, the printed matter can be obtained by peeling the cloth from the substrate after drying. The heating and coloring treatment after printing is a preferable treatment step because the coloring efficiency can be improved, and as the treatment method, heating with an iron or the like or treatment with a steam iron is preferable.

If necessary, the obtained printed material is
Cut to the desired size, the cut pieces are sewn,
Processes such as adhesion and welding for obtaining a final processed product are performed, and a processed product such as a tie and a handkerchief can be obtained.

[0052]

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples.

Example 1 An aqueous solution of kayakryl resin T-180 (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd .: a water-soluble pressure-sensitive adhesive mainly composed of polyacrylic) was used with a doctor knife coater to a thickness of about 80 μm. 70 g / m ²
Was applied to the front surface of paper processed with a fluorine-based resin.
Then, it was dried with hot air at 80 ° C. and wound up. This and a cotton lawn treated with the compound shown in the above-mentioned specific example [Chemical formula 2] as a reactive quaternary amine compound are put together and pasted between two rubber rolls, and then cut into a size of A4 size. Multi-color printing was performed using a commercially available inkjet color printer (BJC-820J made by Canon). Immediately after printing, the cloth was removed from the paper, steam ironed, thoroughly washed with a 0.1% aqueous solution of laurylaminopropylglycine (pH = 4.0), and then dried. A color image with sufficient density was vividly printed on the cotton loan. In addition, a sharp image was obtained without stains on the white part to which the ink did not adhere.

Example 2 An aqueous solution of kayakryl resin H-900 (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd .: a water-soluble adhesive mainly composed of polyacrylic) was applied on a Mylar film having a thickness of about 70 μm using a silk screen, It was dried with hot air at ℃. This was combined with a heat-treated polyester georgette to which a mixture of polyamide resin and dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea was applied and bonded through two rubber rolls.
Then, in the same manner as in Example 1, a commercially available inkjet color printer (BJC manufactured by Canon Inc.) was cut out into a size of A4 size.
Multi-color printing was performed using -820J).
Immediately after printing, remove the cloth from the film and iron it. 0.2% of lauryl dimethyl betaine
It was washed thoroughly with an aqueous solution (pH = 5.0) and then dried.
A color image of sufficient density was vividly printed on the polyester georgette. In addition, a sharp image was obtained without stains on the white part to which the ink did not adhere.

Example 3 An adhesive-coated paper prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 and the above-mentioned specific example [Chemical Formula 7] as a reactive quaternary amine compound.
Rayon fabrics cationized with the compound of Example 1 were combined and bonded between two rubber rolls. Then, in the same manner as in Example 1, a commercially available inkjet color printer (BJC-82 manufactured by Canon Inc.) was cut into a size of A4 size.
0J) was used for multi-color printing. Immediately after completion of printing, the cloth was peeled off from the paper, thoroughly washed with a 0.05% aqueous solution of sodium laurylaminopropionate, and then dried. A color image having a sufficient density was vividly printed on the rayon cloth. In addition, a sharp image was obtained without stains on the white part to which the ink did not adhere.

Example 4 A polyester / cotton blend (65/35) cloth was padded with an aqueous solution containing 4% alumina sol-200 (manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and 0.5% polyvinyl alcohol (squeezing ratio 80%).
After treatment and heating and curing at 130 ° C., it was adhered to the adhesive coated Mylar film used in Example 2. Then, in the same manner as in Example 1, a commercially available inkjet color printer (BJC-8 manufactured by Canon Inc.) was cut into a size of A4 size.
20J) was used for multi-color printing. Immediately after printing, the cloth was peeled from the film, thoroughly washed with a 0.03% aqueous solution of lauryl dihydroxyethyl betaine, and then dried. A color image of sufficient density without unevenness was vividly printed on the polyester / cotton blended fabric. In addition, a sharp image was obtained without stains on the white part to which the ink did not adhere.

Example 5 Adhesive-coated paper prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 and silk haniji cationized with the compound of the above-mentioned specific example [Chemical Formula 3] as a reactive quaternary amine compound. The weight was combined and the two rubber rolls were bonded together. Then, in the same manner as in Example 1, a commercially available inkjet color printer (BJC-820 manufactured by Canon Inc.) was cut out into a size of A4 size.
Multicolor printing was carried out using J). Immediately after completion of printing, the cloth was peeled off from the paper, and a 0.02% aqueous solution of coconut oil fatty acid amidopropyl betaine (pH = 4.
It was washed thoroughly with 5) and then dried. A color image with sufficient density was vividly printed on the silk habutae. In addition, a sharp image was obtained without stains on the white part to which the ink did not adhere.

Comparative Example 1 A commercially available inkjet color printer (BJC-82 manufactured by Canon Inc.) was used in the same manner as in Example 1 except that laurylaminopropylglycine was not used.
0J) was used for multi-color printing. After printing, it was steam ironed, immediately rinsed thoroughly with water and then dried. Although a color image of sufficient density was obtained on the cotton loan, the stain on the white part where ink did not adhere was conspicuous and the sharpness of the edge of the image was inferior.

Comparative Example 2 A recording material was prepared in the same manner as in Example 5, except that untreated silk wing double was used in place of the cationized silk wing double. Then, in the same manner as in Example 5, the sheet was cut into a size of A4 size, and multi-color printing was performed using a commercially available inkjet color printer (BJC-820J manufactured by Canon). After completion of printing, it was heated and dried at 80 ° C. for 30 minutes, washed thoroughly with water, and then the cloth was peeled from the substrate and dried. The color image on the silk habutae was not practical because the density was insufficient.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is not necessary to change the ink used according to the type of cloth, and recording with good operability is possible.

Further, according to the present invention, a clear printed material having a high color density can be obtained even when it is directly applied to a commercial ink jet printer for office or personal use.

Further, according to the present invention, textile printing can be performed on a cloth by a simple process.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a head portion of an inkjet printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating a head section taken along line AB in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view illustrating a head in which the head shown in FIG. 1 is multi-headed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an inkjet printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an ink cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a print unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 13 Head 14 Groove 15 Heating Head 16 Protective Film 17-1, 17-2 Aluminum Electrode 18 Heating Resistance Layer 19 Heat Storage Layer 20 Substrate 21 Ink 22 Orifice 23 Meniscus 24 Ink Drop 25 Printed Medium 26 Multi Groove 27 Glass Plate 28 Heating Head 40 Ink Bag 42 Plug 44 Ink Absorber 45 Ink Cartridge 51 Cloth Supply Section 52 Cloth Feed Roller 53 Discharge Roller 61 Blade 62 Cap 63 Absorber 64 Discharge Recovery Section 65 Head 66 Carriage 67 Guide Shaft 68 Motor 69 Belt 70 Print Unit 71 Head Part 72 atmosphere communication port

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Fumi Takade 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tomoya Yamamoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kya Non-Incorporated (72) Inventor Mariko Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A cloth treated with a cationic substance is subjected to ink jet recording, and then, if necessary, after coloring treatment,
An inkjet printing method comprising a step of washing with amphoteric surfactant-dissolved water and drying. 2. Cotton, the cloth of which is treated with a cationic substance,
The ink-jet printing method according to claim 1, wherein the ink-jet printing method is silk, linen, rayon, acetate, nylon, polyester fiber cloth, or a mixed spinning cloth thereof. 3. The inkjet printing method according to claim 1, wherein the cloth treated with the cationic substance is stretched on the substrate via an adhesive. 4. A printed material printed by the inkjet printing method according to claim 1. 5. A processed product obtained by further processing the printed material according to claim 4. 6. The processed product is obtained by cutting the printed product into a desired size and subjecting the cut pieces to a step of obtaining a final processed product. Processed products. 7. The processed product according to claim 6, wherein the step for obtaining the final processed product is sewing.